Door



Dec. 29, `1.931. A. s. BARRows DooR v original Filed Jan. 2, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 MH. I

Dec. 29, 1931. Y, A, s 'BARROWS 1,838,731

DOOR

Original Filed Jan. 2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l5 la@ 1z0 @il PatentedDec. 29, 1931 UNITED sil-Arias PATENT --i-FICE ALLAN S. BAR-ROWS, OF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO YOUNGS'IOWN STEEL DOOR COMPANY, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO `DOOR, v

Applicationvled January 2, 1924, Serial No. 683,881. Renewed' Gctober21, 1929. i

` This invention relates to improvements in cai` doors. p

@ne object of the invention is to providea Acar door of the outsidesliding type, and

every direction is obtained.'V y

A further object of the invention is to provide a car door of'the`double, outsideV sliding type especially adapted for boX cars usedin the transportation of automobiles, furniture and other articles oflarge size.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a doorconstruction, wherein the front edge thereof is so constructed andbraced, in combination with in-A expensive fixtures used therewith, asto pro-v vide unusual strengthv against lateral thrust.

Other objects and advantages of the in- "vention will more clearlyappear from the description and claims hereinafter following;`

In the drawings formingv a part of this slieciiication, Figure 1 is aside elevational view of `a portion of a car showing `my 1in`proveniente in connection therewith, as applied to a single slidingdoor,'parts 'beingbroken away in order to better accommodate the figureto the sheet.

Vresponding substantially to the section line 2-2 of Figure 1.V Figure 3is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially torthe section line 3--3 ofFigure Ll. Figure l is an interior sideelevational view of a portion of a caigshowing my improvementsinc'onnection with adouble sliding door construction, parts being brokenawayV in order to better. accommodate the figure to the sheet. Figure 5isan enlarged detailed, f

vertical, sectional V,view corresponding substanti ally to the line 5 5of Figure 4'. Fignre G isV an enlarged, horizontal, sectional viewcoi-responding substantiallyto the line ii3 of Figure 7. Figure 7 is anexterior, side, elevational view of the adjacent ends of the front andrear members of 4a portion of the double sliding door, shown in Figurefi. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a differentembodiment of the invention.` Figure 9 is a detailed, perspective Figure2 is an enf larged, broken, horizontal, sectional view cor-` view of awedge element used in connection with the improved double doorconstruction; and Figures 10 and 11 are horizontal, sectional viewsillustrating further embodiments of the invention relating to the endconstruction of the doors.

Referring first to the construction illus-V tr'ated in Figures 1 and 2,11 indicates the usual side facing boards of a boX car, 17 one of thepostsror jambs at the rear edge of the door, and 18 the post at theopposite side of the door opening.`

In thev arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a single outside door isemployed, designated A. `The door A is of the top hung type being,preferably, provided with a pair Zebars 21, the Zbar at the top of thedoor coacting with the track 2O so as to prevent the door from movingoutwardly with respect to the track.

Suitable means of the type disclosed in my co-pending application,Serial No. 611,243, iiled January 8, 1923,is preferably provided toprevent the lower edge of the door A from being swung or pushedoutwardly, comprising a series of guide brackets 22, 23 and 24, each ofwhich is provided with an upstanding ilange -25 having cani surfacescooperating with wedge brackets 26 secured to the door. -The door ispreferably provided with two Vof these wedge brackets 2G, one at eachend of the lower edge of the door, as

clearly shown in Figure 1. When the door is closed, the respectivebrackets 26 will engage behind the guide bars 24 and hence pre-V ticallyalong the outer face of the door A at Y the rear edge thereof, securedto the door* by any suitable means, such as rivets or bolts and theother flange 31 overlying the rear edge of the door. rl`he vertical edgeportion of the flange 31 is preferably bent to hook shape, as indicatedat 131, so as to engage over the projecting edge 32 of a wear plate 132,applied to the exposed faces of the post 17. In this manner a spark andweather seal is obtained for the rear edge of the door A.

At the front edge of the door A, a special construction of greatstrength is employed. The same comprises a vertically extending metal.strip 33, a section of angle bai-,a strip 35 and a second section 36 ofangle bar, as best shown in Figure 2. The angle bar has an outerrelatively narrow flange 3T extending parallel to the side wall of thecar, and to which is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured the strip 33.rlfhe an gie bar 36 has an elongated leg 38 extending transversely ofthecar and to which one leg of the angle bar 35 is riveted or otherwiserigidly secured, as indicated at 39. The strip 35 is secured to theinner edge of the other leg of the angle iron 35 inwardly of thevertically extending front edge of the door, diverging outwardly fromsaid door and being secured to the edge of the leg of the angle iron 35that is in turn secured to the angle iron 3G. t will be observed thatthe other leg of the angle bar 35 secured to the main portion of thedoor A, at the front end thereof, by suitable means such as rivets orbolts 40, which also serve to secure the strips 33 and 35 to the outerside of the door.

1V ith the construction described, it will be observed that l provide anexceedingly rigid and strong front edge for the door A, the same forminga tubular, substantially triangular, horizontalv cross-section with theinner face of the door, including a pair of protecting over-hangingmarginal flanges, one extending forwardly and consisting of two plies ofmetal 33 and 37 and the other extending laterally and consisting of twoplies of metal 35 and 33. rilhis construction is especially adapted toresist bending from thrusts exerted transversely outwardly from theinterior of the car, to resist bending from thrusts imparted parallel tothe side wallv of the car, and also to resist bending or thrusts exertedinwardly against the door.

T he post 18 has the exposed faces thereof protected by a wear plate 41,secured by bolts or any other suitable means passing through the postand flanges on the wear plate. A vertically disposed angular strip 41 issecured to the outer side of the car at the frontedge of the dooropening, and adapted to coact with the double ply edge of the door A, toprovide a weather or spark seal, the double ply edge being so disposedas to overhang the rear flange of the angle strip when the door is inclosed position, as clearly shown in Figure 2. rlhe strip t1 ispreferably seeured directly to the wear plate il and is held by the samebolts that serve to secure the plate 41.

Referring next to the construction illustrated in. Figures 3, 4, 5, Gand 7, 11() indi cates the usual side plate of a box car, 111 the sidefacing boards, 112 the door lintel, 113 the floor boards, 114 thethreshold plate, 115 the car side sill and 11G the supporting block forthe extended floor boards. The door openin g is provided 'ith posts orambs at the front and rear ends thereof in all respects similar to thejambs or posts 17 and 13 hereinbefore described. In this connection, itis pointed out that the structure of the car adjacent the door openingin Figures 1 and 2 corresponds in all respects to the construction shownin Figure 3, as hereinbefore described.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, two slidingoutside doors are employed in connection with a large door opening, oneof which may be termed the main door and designated B', and the other aVsomewhat narrower door, which may be termed a secondary or auxiliarydoor, which is indicated by the reference character A. The doors A. andB are of the top hung type, cach being preferably provided with a pairof roller carrying brackets 118 similar to the brackets 1S hereinbeforedescribed and each having ay roller 119 which rides upon the Z-bar track120, the brackets being so formed that they clear the outermost flangesof the track, and each door having its top and bottom edges providedwith longitudinally extending Z-bars '121 of a constructioncorresponding with the Z-bars 21 hereinliefore described. The Z-bar atthe top of the door has the one arm thereof abutting the outer surfaceof the door, the central section abutting the upper edge of the door andthe remaining arm extending upwardly in alinement with the rear surfaceof the door and inside of the outermost track flange so as to therebyprevent the door from moving outwardly with respect to the track. TheZ-bar at the bottom end of each door also has an arm and theintermediate section thereof abutting` the outer surface and bottom edgeof the door respectively, the remaining arm of the' Z-bar being inalinement with the rear surfaces of the door and projecting downwardlytherefrom.

The main body portion of the door B is preferably constructed of woodbraced on the inner side by a centrally disposed longitudinallyextendingmember 127 and two pairs of diagonally extending members 12S-123. The'front end of the Vdoor B which is the end adjacent the door when thedoors are in closed position` as shown in Figure (3. provided with avertically disposed Z-bar 1li-2, applied to the exposed faces of therear edge, andl the outer side thereof, in such a manner that one legand the intermediate porspectively and the other leg projects from thedoor in a plane parallel to the i'ear side thereof toward the adjacentedge of the door Ar.

The har 142 servesas a protecting wear plate for the door B and theprojecting leg-coacts with the front edge ofthe door A' to provide i aWeather and spai'kseal. Theopposite .or rear end of the door' B is of aconstruction i identical with that of the rear end of the door A, asshown in Figure 2, being provided -With a. strip similar to the strip29,cooperating with a Wear plate similar to tliejplate:132`

.iber 127 and two pairs of diagonally extending members 123--128. Thedoor A' is otherwise of a construction substantially the same as thedoor A, with the exception that the frontend thereof is provided vwith apost or block 143 and the angle bar 35 of the door A is replaced by astrip 135. V,In Figure 4, Which shows the entir-e door A' and Figures 6and 7 which sho7 thefrout end portion only of the same, the frontedgecomprises a kvertically extending metal strip 133, a second strip135 and a section 136 of angle bar hav-V ing a relatively narrow flange137 andan elongated leg 138.

The elongated leg 138 of the angle bar 136 ,extends transversely of thecar and has one edge of the strip 135 rigidly secured thereto asindicated at A139. It Will be observed that the other leg of the strip135 is ksecured toA the main portion of the door A'V ata vpoint linivardly of the-'front end thereofby any suitable-means, such as boltsor rivets',vwhich also serve to secure the strip 133 to the outer sideof the door, and -that theV strip 135 vis extended angularly inwardlyfrom the main plaiieof the door. As best shown in Figure' 3, the flangelo( ofthe section v136 extends for the full length of the door A', butthe leg 138 and thestrip 135 terminate a short distance above thethreshold and below the door lintel.

lli/'ith the construction described, it Will be observed that I providewhat may be termed a tubular edge at the front edge of the door A', saidtubular edge-being .of Vsubstantially Vtriangular horizontal section andprovided n with a protecting overehanging 'marginal flange, consistingof tivo plies` ofi'metal 133 and 137. This construction is especiallyadapted to resist bending frointhe thrusts exerted transverselyoutwardly-from the interior of the car., to resist bending vfrom thrustsimparted parallel to the sidewall of the car and also to resist bendingor thrust exerted inwardly against the door. rThejpro- .jecting armofthe Z-bar 142km the door B' is adapted to coact Withithe double'plyedge 133-f-l137 of the door A' to provide a Weather or spark seal, thedouble ply edge being so disposed as to 4overlningthe leg of the Z-barwhen the door is 1in closed position, as clearly shown iii-Figure-G.

The elongated leg 138 of the angle section 136 providesa suitablesupport for the heavy block 143, which may be bolted 'to the anglesectioii'asrindicated at 144, the inner face of the block 143 being inline with the inner face of the post of the door opening atthe rear endof the auxiliary door, corresponding to the po'stl, shown in Figure 2.There the auxiliary door A'! is not required and when it may be left fora considerable time in itsA closedV position, thedoor A' may be lockedin-a closed position-and boards nailed tothe post atV the end ofthe dooropening corresponding to thev post `land tothe block 143 to continue theinner sheathing of the car.-

Suitable means is preferably provided in orderito prevent the front edgeof the dooi A' from being sprung outwardly, said means comprising Wedgecastings 158 secured to the post 143 and Wedge castings 159 secured tothe lintel and threshold respectively. One ofthe Wedge castings 158 isshown in detail in Figure9 and is in the formof a substantiallyrectangular plate 160having spaced side flanges 1611-161 projecting-atright angles therefro1n, by Which thecasting is Asecured to the post143, the-flanges of the plate straddling the post and being providedwithalined openings adapted to receiveV securing bolts 162 extendingthrough thepost.` As shown in Figure 9, each ofthefianges 161 ispreferably provided Witli three bolt receiving openings. On vtheside ofthe plate 160 opposite to 'theiianges 161 is provided -a.,wedge`projection. 163 adapted to cooperate with a similar vwedge projection onone ofthe Wedge castingsv 159. The castings 158 are preferaoV ably twoin niunber, one being fixed to the i upper end and; the oth'er tothelower end kof the .post 143, and each coacting with onei of the vve'dgecastingsl159. The Wedge cast-v ings 159 are of similar construction,eachcomprising a fiat plate providedwith a VWedge projection 164 similar tothe projection 163 of the plate 158 but reversely arranged and coactingtherewith -to fore-e the door inwardly toward the car Wall When thesaine is moved to elosedposition.V

In the double door construction just deings 126 similarrto the' bracketsv22,23 and 24 and wedge castings26 are provided, theV` construction andarrangei'nent being thesarne as that disclosed in thecopending-'application referred to, the rearloiver corner of the carriedbythe car body, andthe frontlower 1120 scribed, guide brackets 124 andWedge casti corners of each of the doors A and B', that is, the twomeeting corners when the doors are in closed position are illustrated inFigure 1 7. preferably being provided with a single `wedge bracket. Thewedge brackets 124 are cut out as shown in Figure 3 toaccommodate hedownwardly projecting leg of the Z-bar 121 at the lower edge of thedoor. When the doors A and B are closed, the respective .wedge castingswill engage behind the ad- :a gravity controlled latching mechanism tolock the same in closed position.

T he iatching mechanism comprises, broadly, a pivoted latch C; aretaining member D; and a socket member E iXed to the door.

The latch C, as best shown in Figure 5, is in the torm of a flat plate,having upwardly diverging side edges 42 and 43, a convex top edge 44 ota curvature of relatively great radius, and a` convex bottom edge 45 ofa curvature of relatively short radius. The side edge 42 is et greaterlength than the side edge 43 thereby providing a toe portion 46 adaptedto coact with the socket member E. Upon reference to Figure 5, itwill benoted that the toe portion 46 is adapted to engage within the socketmember E to hold the door in locked position. The latch C is recessed asindicated at 47 fora purpose hereinafter described, the recess 47 beingprovided with a pair ot diverging side walls 48 and 49. At its lowerend, the latch C is provided with a pivot opening concentric with theconvex lower edge face 45 of the latch adapted to receive the bolt 50 bywhich the latch is pivotally mounted. To provide means for withdrawingthe latch C from its locking posi-A pivot opening at-the lower end ofthe latch and receiving the bolt 50. The upper end portion of theretaining member D is iiXed to the post 17 by means of a bolt passingthrough the boss 52.

As clearly shown in Figure-5, the latch C is swingingly mounted on thepost 17 by having its lower end pivoted on the retaining member D bymeans of the boss 58, the boss 52 extending into the opening 47 and thebody portion of the retaining member .spanning the space between thepivot opening at the lower end of the member C and the open-V ing 47,holding the-latch in position against lateral movement away from thepost and forming aguide for the same. rl`heboss 52 is adapted to coactwith the walls 48 and 49 ot the recess 47 to limit the swinging movementof the latch C, both in an upward and downward direction. In thelowermost position of the latch C, as shown in full lines in FigureA 5,the wall 4S) is in abutment with the boss 52, holding the toe ot thelatch in its lowermost position. Upon the latch being raised, the wall48 will limit the upward movement of the same by engagement with theboss 52, the limit of the upward movement of the latch being indicatedby the dotted lines in Figure 5. As will be evident, the

. boss 52 is fixed, being so positioned with ret'- erence to the pivotpoint of the latch that it will arrest the upward movement of the latchwith the center of 'gravity of the latter located to the leftof thepivot as seen in Figure V5, thereby assuring the automatic return of thelatch to its lowermost position.

rllhe socket member E is of generally rectangular outline and isprovided with a continuous flange The socket member E is set into thebrace 127 as clearly shown in Figure 5, being secured thereto by screws,or any other suitable fastening devices passing through the flange asclearly shown in Figure 4. As will be evident upon reference to Figure4, the socket member E is spaced the proper distance from the rear endof the door to permit the latch C to drop into the same when the door isclosed to hold the door locked in that position.

The operation of the automatic locking` mechanism is as follows,assuming that the door is being moved from open to closed position. Atthe beginning of the sliding movement et the door, the latch will besupported by the toe thereof engaging with the inner flat surface of thebrace 127, and during the sliding movement of the door will ride on thebrace 127.Y In the sliding closingl movement Vof the door the socketmember E is brought into registration with the latch, whereupon thelatter will drop into the socket due to the influence oi" gravity, thusautomatically locking the door in closed position.

To unlock the latching mechanism, the t e 46 of the latch C is withdrawnfrom the socket member E by raising the latch C to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure whereupon the-door is free to be moved to openposition. In the operation of opening thel door whenl the socket memberE has passed beyond the latch C the latter due to the influence ofgravity drops into position in front of the socket with the toe engiging the brace 27.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention'disclosed in Figure 8, theconstruction is in all respects similar to that shown in Figures 4, 5, 6and 7 with the exception that the door A2 corresponding to the door A isnot provided with the projecting fiange 137 and does not have the strip133 projecting beyond the edge of the door, the strip 13? placed by asingle angular section secured to the outer face of the door fandextending over theedgeat the frontofithe latter.- l

Theconstruction showinV in `Figure 8 comprises`,amain door B2 and anauxiliary `door A2. Themain door B2 is inallrespects similar to-the doorA'Bshow-n inFigures Sand 7 with the `exception that the 'Z-bar142fisreplaced by anj'angle stripl242 appliedl to-the exposed face oftheA frnftedge andthe outer side thereof. `The frontedgeof the door 'A2,which is the edge-adj acentthel door B2 when thedoors arein closedposition, comprises a strip 235 *identical with the strip 135 shown inFigure :6, and asection of Vangle -bar 233 having a relatively wideflange 233 secu-redto the outerl face of the door byfboltsor any othersuitable fastening devicesl and.` an elongatedl leg 238 abuttingthefront edge of 'the door and having itsfinner edge portion riveted tothe inner edge portion of the strip 235. The elongated leg 238of theangle section236` provides a support for a block 243 similar to theblock 143 shown in Figure 6. When the-doors A2 and B2 are in closedposition, the: edges of the sameabut with the flat front face of thestrip 242abutting the flat faceof the'leg238. x Y.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in.`Figure 10, the con struction is similar to that shown in AFigures 1 and2 with the exceptionthattherfront edge of the door is ofa somewhatdifferent design. In FigurevlO, 318 indicates the'door post at the front.end ofthe 'door opening, 141 the wear plate.` and 141 the` angular.strip secured to the outer sideofthe car. 'Ihe sinfrle outsidedoorzisdesignated by A3, the rear edge `of which-lis of aconstruction'identical with thedoornA. The'front edge of the .doornAtcomprises. a vertically disposed metal strip 333` and VasectionpofZ-shaped strip 336. iThe Zstrip hasla narrow and a relatively widelange-337 and 338extending parallel to thefside wall of the car. ,TheZ-strip has the `flange 338 lying flat against'the inner surface` ofthedoor, and the portion intermediate the flanges abutting the ,frontedge of the same. The outer-face of the flange 337 lies inthe plane ofthe outer surface of the door andis riveted or otherwise rigidly securedto the strip 333. Bolts340 or anyf other suitable fastening devices:serve to secure the strips 333` and 336 tothe door.` In this connection,it Awill be notedthat the two-l ply projecting.` portion 333. and 337coacts with the angle strip 141 ina manner similar to the parts 33,37'and 41 shown in Figure2, to form a sparkan'd Weather seal.

' Referring next to the embodiments of the invention illustrated inFigure 11, theconf struction is also similar to that shown in Figures 1and 2,` with the exception that the frontedge of the door is of'somewhatdifferent desigiiand'the outer side of the car adj'acentxthe` front edgeof the door is provided 'withrlan angle strip arranged re"- versely toVtherangle strip 41 shown in Figlure 2. i In Figure 11, 418 indicatesthedoor post'at the front end 'of the door` opening and 441 the'fwearplate.` The single-outside door is designated by A4,`the rear edge of'which is'of a construction identical withthe door rEhe front edge ofthe door-1A?"` com;- prises two vertically disposedv Vangle lbars 433and 435 secured respectively to the outer and: inner surfaces of thedoor. The angle bar 433 has a relatively wide flange434 lying flatagainst the outer surface of the door and an elongated leg 438 extendinginwardly, transverselyv of the car and lying flat against the frontedge" of `the door. The angle bar 435 alsohas a relatively wide iange436, lying fiat against the inner surface of the door and a leg 439extending inwardly, transversely ofthe car and lying 'fiat against the@leg 438 and'rigidly'secured thereto in any suitable manner. The parts438 and'439provide a iiange of two-ply metal. |Ihe flanges ,434 and4350i the bars are fixedto the-door by anysuitable means such as bolts440'extending therethrough. A vertically disposed angular strip 441is'secured to the outer side ofthe car at thefront` edge of the dooropening, being fixed to the Vpost 418 by one of its flanges and havingthe other `flange project'- ing outwardlyl from the post with the facethereof nearest the 'door in substantially" the same plane as the innertransverse face of the postV andV adapted to coact with and overhang thefront edge of thedoor to provide a weather or spark seal. v .Y It willbe evident that my invention is not limited tothe use of the yvariousdesigns of front edges of doors shown in Figures 2, 10 and 11in-connection with single doors, but that thesame may be 'employedequally well in connection with a rdouble door vconstruction of the typeillustrated in `Figures 3-to 7 inclusive. t willi alsobe evident thatthedesigns of` front edges ffor `doors shown,"in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive,as applied todouble doors may be employed equally well in connectionwith single doors. Y

I have herein shown and described what I now consider` the preferredmanner of carry` ing out `the invention, but the same 4is mere.L ly4illustrative and I contemplate all changes and `modifications that comewithin thescope ofthe claims vappended hereto. f

lgclaimz.: Y i

1.. In a car door, Athe combinationv with a mainwoodendoor portion; of afront edge portion for said wooden portion comprised of fabricatedmetal, said metal including certainrparts arranged with reference to thewooden door portion as to .provide a hollow tubular formation. Y. v

2. As an articleY of manufacture,vv ua door having the main portionthereof formed flat and provided along one vertical edge with a flatmetal strip; a metal strip secured to the main body portion of the doorat the inner side thereof inwardly of said edge and diverging from saidbody portion; and a metal member rigidly connecting the edges of both ofsaid strips.

3. As an article of manufacture, a door having a main body portion andprovided on one side thereof along one vertical edge with Y a flat metalstrip extending beyond said edge; a metal strip secured to the main bodyportion of the door at the other side thereof inwardly of said edge anddiverging from said body portion; and a third metal member secured tothe free edges of said strips.

4. As an article of manufacture, a door having the body portion thereofformed flat and provided along the vertical edge at one side thereofwith a flat metal strip extending beyond said edge; a metal stripsecured to the main body portion of the door at the other side thereofinwardly of said edge and diverging from said body portion; and a thirdmetal member secured to the free edges of said strips and spanning thespace therebetween.

5. In a car having a door opening defined in part by posts, thecombination with a slidable door having a front edge composed offabricated metal and forming a substantially triangular cross sectionwith the inner face of said door, said fabricated front edge including aportion extending beyond the front edge of the door proper and spacedfrom the side wall of the car, a strip connected to said portion andextending substantially normal to the main plane of said door, and amember connected to said strip in spaced relation to said portion andconnected to said door, of a vertically extending member secured to theside of the car adjacent the front end of the door opening and having aprojecting flange adapted to coact with said projecting edge portion toform a spark and weather seal.

6. In a car, provided with a side wall having a door opening therein,the combination with a slidable door having the front edge thereofcomposed of fabricated metal and forming a triangular cross-section withthe inner face of said door, said fabricated front edge comprising avertically extending strip secured to the outer side of the door andprojecting beyond the front edge of the main body portion thereof, astrip secured to the inner side of the door inwardly of said main bodyportion edge, and an angle strip secured to the free edges of said firstand second named strips, one arm of said angle strip being disposed inflat face-to-face Contact with the projecting portion of said firstnamed strip and forming therewith a double ply edge portion; and a metalstrip secured to the outer side of the said wall adjacent said dooropening and coacting with said double ply edge to provide a spark andweather seal.

7. In a car provided with a side wall having a door opening therein, thecombination with a slidable vdoor adapted to close said opening, saiddoor having the front edge thereof fabricated of sheet metal and formingan approximately triangular, tubular cross-section with the innersurface of said door, said fabricated front edge including a two plymetal ange extending beyond the front edge of the main body portion ofthe door; a vertically extending strip secured to the outerside of thecar Wall adj ajacent one end of said door opening and having avertically disposed outwardly projecting flange, said strip coactingwith said two ply flange of the door to form a spark and weather seal;and coacting means on the side wall of the car adjacent the other end ofthe door ope-ning and on the adjacent end of the door, when the door isin closed position, providing a second spark and Weather seal.

8. In a car, the combination with a main sliding'door; of an auxiliarybraced sliding door, the latter having the front edge thereof composedof fabricated metal and forming a substantially triangular horizontalcrosssection with the inner face of said door; and a block secured tosaid front edge and adapted to over-'lap the adjacent edge of the maindoor when the doors are in closed position.

9. In a member having a door opening defined in parts by posts, thecombination with a main sliding door; of an auxiliary braced slidingdoor, the latter having the front edge thereof composed of fabricatedmetal and forming a substantially triangular cross-section with theinner face of said door, said fabricated front edge including a portionextending beyond the front edge of the main body portion of said doorand coacting with the adjacent end of the main door when the doors arein closed position a block secured to the front edge of said auxiliarydoor and adapted to over-lap the adjacent edge of the main door when thedoors are in closed position, said block and edge of the auxiliary doorcoacting with the adjacent end of said main door to provide a spark andweather seal.

10. In a car, the combination with a sliding door having alongitudinally extending bra-ce; of means carried by a car body adjacent the rear edge of the door, when the latter is in closed position,cooperating with said door for automatically locking it in closedposititon, said means including a gravity actuatedlatch member, and asocket member mounted on the door and disposed outside of the innerplane of the bra'ce.

l1. In a ear, the combination with a sliding door; of a brace extendinglongitudinally of the door; a socket member seated within said bracerigidly fixed with reference to the door and spaced from the rear edgethereof;

llO

ine bevond the edge thereof' a second metalV .Y n D strip secured to theinner side of the door; and a third metal strip secured to the 'freeedges ot sai-d lirst and second named strips and lying dat against theadjacent edge of e door. 13. an article of manufacture, a door havingthe main portion thereof formed flat and pix, Sided along one verticaledge at the enter side thereof with a fiat metal strip; an e bar havingone arm secured toi said strip to provide a two-ply flange and havingthe other arm extending transversely, inivardly of the car beyond therear face. of said door; and a third metal member having one end securedto the main'bodv of the door Y and the other end secured to saidinwardly extending arm to provide a two ply flange.

le. in a car having a door opening dened in part by posts, thecombination with slidable door having aront edge composed .Il

o iabriwted metal arranged withrreference t l do. so as to provide ahollow tubular i" Lon substantially triangular in crosssection, saidfabricated front edge including a portion extending beyond the frontedge or the door proper and spaced from the side wall ot the car; of avertically extending member secured to the side ot the car adjacent theiront end orp the door opening and having a projecting flange adapted tocoact with eaid projecting edge port-ion to form a spark and weatherseal.

l5. fr car door comprising a wooden body portion, having the. front edgethereof comoi" fabricated metal, said metallic edge n including avertically arranged meniber liviosed substantially at right angles tovthe i inplane of the door, and extending inwardly of said plane toprovide means to which a grain closure may be attached when the latteris applied on the inner side of said door, said member overlying anddirectly bearing against the front edge of the wood portion. Y

1G. A car door, comprising a wooden body portion, having the front edgethereof comfabricated metal embracing the posed t front edge and innerand outer faces thereof, said metallic edge portion including avertically arranged member disposed substantially at right angles to themain plane of the door, and extending inwardly of said plane to providemeans to which a grain closure Ving the latter.

may be attached when the latter is applied on the inner side of saiddoor; and means extending from a point spaced from the front edgebetween said main body portion and said vertically disposed member forbrac- 17. A car door, comprising a main wooden body portion, having ametallic edge including a metallic element extending substan` tiallyperpendicularly to the main plane of said body portion; and means forbracing said member against rotation about its longitudinal axis withreference to the main body portion ot said door, said meansvextendingdiagonally from the wood portion to said memberand attached to thelatter inwardly of the inner plane of the wood portion.

1S. In arcar, the combination with a main sliding door and an auxiliarywooden sliding door having a metallic construction at its 'forward end,said construction including a vertically extending portion disposedsubstantially at right angles to the main plane .of the body portion ofsaid auxiliary door nd adapted to co-operate with the adjacent edge ofsaid mainsliding door; and means associated with said auxiliary door forbracing said metallic portion against rotation about its longitudinalaxis, said Vmeans extending diagonally from the wood portion to saidmember and attached to the latter inwardly of the inner plane ot thewood portion.

19. In a lcar, the combination with main and auxiliary oppositelysliding doors arranged to have their front edges meet whenv the doorsare in closed position, said auxiliary door including a main bodyportion of wood provided at its forward edge with a metallicconstruction including a vertically extend ing metallic element having asection arranged at substantially right angles to the main body 'portionof said auxiliary door, said section extending inwardly of the mainplane of the door; a nailing strip secured to the forward .have hereuntosubscribed my name this 7th day of November, 1923.

ALLAN S. BARROVVS.

